The Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District (SVRCD) would like to announce the commencement of the “Sierra Brooks – Smithneck WUI Fuels Reduction” project. This Project includes 723-acres of mechanical mastication upon lands owned by the      United States Forest Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Funding for this project has been provided by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, an agency of the State of California and was awarded to the SVRCD in 2021.


The Project is located near Loyalton, California, in the vicinity of the Sierra Brooks residential area. On May 12th, upon review and scoring of 4 bid proposals, the SVRCD awarded the contract to Paul Roen Company. Work on this project began the second week of June 2022 with over 44 acres completed so far. In order to provide an immediate fuel break for the community of Sierra Brooks, project work has been primarily focused behind homes adjacent to the project area, with intentions of moving out from there. Due to safety concerns, the SVRCD would like to ask the public to stay at least 300 feet from all equipment. For more information and updates on the project please visit the SVRCD’s website at: www.sierravalley-rcd.org


SIDE NOTE: In response to a letter published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Sierra Booster on May 26th, the SVRCD would like to clarify that the Sierra Brooks – Smithneck WUI Fuels Reduction project is separate from a fencing project that CDFW is looking to complete. Additionally, the SVRCD is not a partner on the fencing project and would like to ask that all questions and concerns regarding the fencing project be directed to CDFW as listed within the letter.

​Our 4th. of July will be on Monday, as that is when the 4th. of July is !  Looking forward to seeing all of you again, for a day of fun, food, family and friends...Get here by noon to play in our TOSS FOR OUR TROOPS horse shoe tournament , $10. Don't forget, we always have a nice selection of raffle prizes, so bring your piggy bank. As usual, we supply the dogs, burgers and chicken, you..bring a salad, side dish, or dessert  and maybe some finger food.  I think the parade starts at 9am. so, come out to our place when it is over. No dogs, unless on a leach. Come up "BELLI DR" for more parking....Bring family and friends !!
  HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA, AND GOD BLESS HER !!

Due to extreme drought and wildfire conditions, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) has closed its California forestlands to public access, effective Fri., July 1. This closure will remain in effect until further notice. Public roads that are on SPI forestlands will remain open, but no walk-in access will be allowed. For those looking for maps of SPI property lines, there are several third-party applications available for purchase.

Unless otherwise posted – such as the current wildlife risk closure for California forestlands – Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) offers responsible recreational opportunities for public access on our private, working forestlands. As plans are made to recreate on our lands, it’s important to understand the rules that keep our lands safe, clean and available in the future.
SPI’s private forest lands are generally open to individual members of the public for responsible recreational use such as hiking, bicycling, fishing, hunting, or cross-country skiing as long as they are properly licensed by the State where necessary. We do not allow target shooting, trail building, off-road vehicle use, overnight camping or any fires on our property. In addition, we do not allow the taking of forest products, wildflowers, mushrooms, or other vegetative matter, non-game species, water or soil, or rock samples except by express written permission from SPI.
SPI does not allow motorized use beyond locked gates. Limiting vehicle access helps lead to:

• Less erosion. We are required by law to maintain roads and protect watersheds and fisheries from erosion.
• Less commercial timber loss, allowing us to help meet the demand for wood products.
• Fewer fires caused by humans. During most years, California is very prone to wildfires. People start more than half of all wildland fires.

As our lands are commercial working forests, we will close areas where we are actively operating. There are also times we will close our lands to all forms of recreation due to wildfire danger and other safety concerns. Land closures will be posted and we require that the public respect closures for their own safety and the safety of those working on our lands.
Any activities conducted as a group must receive express written permission from SPI prior to entering upon the property. Commercial use is strictly prohibited without a permit.
Why we limit access:

• As a fire prevention measure.
• To provide for the recovery and restoration of areas impacted by wildfire.
• To protect public safety, especially in active harvest areas.
• To help prevent erosion of roads.
• To deter illegal woodcutting.
• To prevent damage to young regenerated forest stands.
• To deter illegal garbage dumping.
• To prevent Christmas tree theft.
• To protect sensitive research project areas and equipment. Monitoring equipment has been placed in areas where research is under way. Please do not disturb it.

SPI Policy:SPI's ownership is private property. Recreational use is available to individual members of the public, provided the property is treated with respect. We reserve the right to refuse access to anyone. Access is subject to California Penal Code Section 602 and California Civil Code Sections 846, 1008, and 1009. Please be advised that if you enter SPI's property you do so at your own risk, and SPI shall not be liable to you for any injury to person or property, in accordance with applicable state laws.
Access Methods

• Many of SPI’s roads also provide access to federal lands. Roads shared with federal landowners that are designated for public use are open for recreational purposes, but federal road policies may also preclude access to protect forest resources in specific areas.
• In Washington, all access for motorized vehicles is prohibited on our roads unless authorized by SPI.
• In some instances, SPI installs gates to limit access where we have the sole ownership of the road or operate under cooperative agreements with State and Federal agencies.
• Access behind locked gates is limited to non-motorized methods such as walking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, or horseback.
• In all areas, in an effort to protect meadows and sensitive plants and reduce erosion, vehicular use is limited to existing roads, and no access is permitted near active logging operations.
• Please do not block gates which may be needed for emergency vehicle access for fire and medical reasons.

Area ClosuresAside from the closure of all active logging areas, any area may be posted as closed to public access for any number of reasons including but not limited to fire danger, recovery and restoration of an areas after a wildfire, potential road damage, wildlife protection, proximity to residential areas, facility protection or current leases or permits to others.
Make sure you obey posted signs!
Recreation Access HotlinesSPI maintains phone hotlines with information about regional information on current public access status.

• California Forests: 530-378-8274
• Northwest Washington (Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties): 360-488-4977
• Southwest Washington (Lewis, Cowlitz and Pacific counties): 360-623-1299

Applicable State Laws
California Civil Code § 846. Permission to enter for recreational purposesAn owner of any estate or any other interest in real property, whether possessory or non-possessory, owes no duty of care to keep the premises safe for entry or use by others for any recreational purpose or to give any warning of hazardous conditions, uses of, structures, or activities on such premises to persons entering for such purpose, except as provided in this section.
A "recreational purpose," as used in this section, includes such activities as fishing, hunting, camping, water sports, hiking, spelunking, sport parachuting, riding, including animal riding, snowmobiling, and all other types of vehicular riding, rock collecting, sightseeing, picnicking, nature study, nature contacting, recreational gardening, gleaning, hang gliding, winter sports, and viewing or enjoying historical, archaeological, scenic, natural, or scientific sites.
An owner of any estate or any other interest in real property, whether possessory or non-possessory, who gives permission to another for entry or use for the above purpose upon the premises does not thereby (a) extend any assurance that the premises are safe for such purpose, or (b) constitute the person to whom permission has been granted the legal status of an invitee or licensee to whom a duty of care is owed, or (c) assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to person or property caused by any act of such person to whom permission has been granted except as provided in this section…..[Exceptions omitted. See the code for the full code section]
Nothing in this section creates a duty of care or ground of liability for injury to person or property.
Oregon – ORS 105.682 and ORS 105.688(1) Except as provided by subsection (2) of this section, and subject to the provisions of ORS 105.688 (Applicability of immunities from liability for owner of land), an owner of land is not liable in contract or tort for any personal injury, death or property damage that arises out of the use of the land for recreational purposes, gardening, woodcutting or the harvest of special forest products when the owner of land either directly or indirectly permits any person to use the land for recreational purposes, gardening, woodcutting or the harvest of special forest products. The limitation on liability provided by this section applies if the principal purpose for entry upon the land is for recreational purposes, gardening, woodcutting or the harvest of special forest products, and is not affected if the injury, death or damage occurs while the person entering land is engaging in activities other than the use of the land for recreational purposes, gardening, woodcutting or the harvest of special forest products. (2) This section does not limit the liability of an owner of land for intentional injury or damage to a person coming onto land for recreational purposes, gardening, woodcutting or the harvest of special forest products. [Exceptions and other details omitted. See the code for the full code sections]
Washington State - RCWA 4.24.210
Liability of owners or others in possession of land and water areas for injuries to recreation users--Known dangerous artificial latent conditions--Other limitations(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) or (4) of this section, any public or private landowners, hydroelectric project owners, or others in lawful possession and control of any lands whether designated resource, rural, or urban, or water areas or channels and lands adjacent to such areas or channels, who allow members of the public to use them for the purposes of outdoor recreation, which term includes, but is not limited to, the cutting, gathering, and removing of firewood by private persons for their personal use without purchasing the firewood from the landowner, hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, bicycling, skateboarding or other non-motorized wheel-based activities, hang gliding, paragliding, rock climbing, the riding of horses or other animals, clam digging, pleasure driving of off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, and other vehicles, boating, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, nature study, winter or water sports, viewing or enjoying historical, archaeological, scenic, or scientific sites, without charging a fee of any kind therefore, shall not be liable for unintentional injuries to such users. [Exceptions and other details omitted. See the code for the full code section]

​

​THE PETITION TO REMOVE School Board member Tom Mooers was discussed during public comment of the Sierra County Board of Education meeting held Tuesday, June 21st. A Circulation Declaration was supposed to be submitted along with petition and was found to be legally insufficient. From the public, Kelly Champion stated she was disappointed and feels the public is completely disregarded and “flat out ignored”. Superintendent James Berardi explained he complied with the law which said if he could not verify all the items listed to be done in the petition he shall not verify the petition itself. He felt he followed the law to the letter of the law. Champion remarked it could be argued and stated the board had done something that the public did not approve of or like. She was unhappy her letter was ignored and this petition was not listed as an agenda item.
Parent and criminal attorney, Darcy Cameron reported she sought out a civil attorney to see if Berardi’s opinion was accurate to which she found out the petition was in fact sufficient. She explained the Declaration document was considered a separate document from the petition but was still provided before Berardi’s determination was made. Cameron stated their voice will be heard with their vote in November. She addressed Mooers and told him she initiated the petition adding it wasn’t necessarily against him but his appointment violated the Brown Act as well as the Board’s own bylaws. She encouraged board members to do research to learn what is required to be board members. Berardi said he did talk to their attorney and they disagreed with Cameron’s attorney and felt he did what was required. 

SACRAMENTO -- The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) today announced the preliminary approval of$12,312 in reimbursements to help Plumas County cover costs it and supporting agencies incurred during the response to the Beckwourth Complex Fires.


The reimbursements represent the state's 75-percent share of the district's $16,416 in costs eligible for reimbursement under the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) following Governor Gavin Newsom's State of Emergency Proclamation for Plumas and six other counties on August 6, 2021.


Under CDAA, reimbursement payments are usually provided based on actual costs incurred by the applicant and as work is completed and documentation is submitted to Cal OES. 
 
Included among the reimbursements are:
·         $11,070.75 in state funds to help the county offset $14,761 in overtime and other personnel costs incurred by the Sheriff's Office, Social Services Department, Animal Control Department, Environmental Health Department, Public Works Department while conducting evacuations, security patrols, damage assessments, clean-up, safety inspections and other response activities; and
·         $1,241.25 in state funds to help the county cover $1655 for response services it received from supporting agencies from outside the county.


In addition to the district's share of eligible costs, Cal OES has approved $1,231.21 to help the district cover administrative costs eligible for CDAA reimbursement. 


More information on the California Disaster Assistance Act is available at https://www.caloes.ca.gov/cal-oes-divisions/recovery/public-assistance/california-disaster-assistance-act


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 A FEMA UPDATE was given to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, June 21st in Loyalton by Sierra County Planning Director Tim Beals. He reported they recently had an “animated” phone discussion with FEMA where the top two people pulled out of the phone call at the last minute. He felt the reason for the meeting was to wipe clean all the commitments FEMA had made to Sierra County. Beals called it frustrating as FEMA is trying to place the burden on the City of Loyalton and Sierra County to do the fieldwork for them. He said their model is full of holes and FEMA has no budget for it. Beals stated they left the meeting with a commitment that this would get turned around. He stated this is a big deal as it impacts every aspect of a property owner’s existence. This topic will be put on the next agenda.
CONVEYANCE of the Sierra Brooks RV Campground property back to the Sierra Brooks Property Owners Association consistent with the completion of the Sierra Brooks Water System Project was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held in Loyalton on Tuesday. Sierra County Planning Director Tim Beals explained the Sierra Brooks Property Owners Association conveyed the parcel to the County who in turn negotiated an exchange with Fish and Game to acquire a one-acre parcel that contains the new pump station developed with the grant/loan for the water project, as well as receiving road rights of way, pipeline easements, and a half acre containing the old pump station. They exchanged stream frontage contained in the campground parcel for these acquisitions and the remainder of the parcel still remains in County ownership. The agreement the County had with the HOA is that once the exchange had finalized and the project was completed, the County would convey the remainder parcel containing the campground back to the HOA. This process had to be done in this manner, as Fish and Game would only negotiate with the County as owner, not an HOA or non-profit. The Deed will need to be done by the County Surveyor to convey the RV campground back to the homeowners. Supervisor Sharon Dryden remarked there has been a lot of interest from the community to get this done. She said the campground has looked better than it has in years, adding the County is returning it better then they received it. The conveyance was approved by concensus.
A SPECIAL SIERRA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ meeting will be held Wednesday, June 29th at 10 a.m. in Downieville to discuss the solid waste budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23. Planning Director Tim Beals stated he was prepared to complete the budget but needed to assess what the fee would be. He said they were down on revenues but in a good position to “hold the line” on the budget and didn’t think there would be an increase.
 A RESOLUTION authorizing and approving the grant application filed with USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grants for funding toward the Downieville Community Hall Renovation Project, as well as directing inclusion of the grant budget in the Fiscal Year 22‐23 budget was approved unanimously during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Loyalton on June 21st. Renovation work, if funded by this grant program, would include all work necessary to remodel the existing building with new ADA accessible public restrooms, a new commercial kitchen, a renovated community room suitable for health clinics, meal service and food distribution, and provide ADA access to the second floor assembly room. The application requests $185,500 in Federal Grant Funding, $135,000 in donations; County match of $209,200 for a project total of $530,000. Planning Director Tim Beals said he appreciated the help from Frank Lang and Vickie Clark in getting pictures of the Hall being used as a vaccination clinic.

A separate resolution was unanimously approved for another grant application through USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grants for funding toward the Sierraville Community Center Renovation Project. This proposed renovation includes shingle roof replacement including work on eaves and addition of gutter system; replacement of all exterior doors (except original front and side doors due to historical value); concrete and stucco repair; kitchen appliances, ceiling tile replacement; and window repair (glazing per historical plan). The grant application requests $326,970 in federal funds, County match is $108,990, for a project totalling $435,960. Beals hoped they might be able to use some of this funding for the Community Hall in Calpine.
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DIRECTION REGARDING PROHIBITING OPEN FIRES on public and private property within the unincorporated area of Sierra County due to extreme fire danger was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held in Loyalton on Tuesday, June 21st. Supervisor Peter Huebner led the discussion stating he felt it was necessary because even with rain there was still a huge danger of fire. Huebner talked about Sardine Lake with reports of fires and illegal fireworks. He felt it was important to impose this. Supervisor Lee Adams reported he received one email from a resident asking them to hold off on this. He felt residents would get angry to impose this too early. Board Chair Paul Roen agreed it was too early adding Forest Service staffing is full and soil moisture index is running low. He wanted to continue monitoring this and stated they could take action down the road. Forest service ramps up as the indexes ramp up. Supervisor Sharon Dryden felt the greatest risk was lightning right now and was not inclined to have a ban yet until the Forest Service implements it. Roen added that last year was extreme circumstances and felt at this point it was a whole different situation than last year. Huebner was concerned with open campfires in campgrounds. Adams remarked they don’t control campfires on national forest lands. This topic will be put on the next agenda.
 

SITUATION REPORT FOR CITY OF LOYALTON MAIN LINE WATER LEAK was reported on at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. The 10-inch main water line that serves as the main artery for the entire town developed a massive leak at the end of Mill Street on the south side of town in the marshland near Smithneck Creek.
This leak started about five years ago in 2017 according to the resident and has progressively gotten worse. The estimated water loss from this leak is between 100,000 to 200,000 gallons per day based on the well flows minus the wastewater inflow, according to the City's licensed wastewater operator Justus Lundy. A leak of this size will only get worse exponentially, it was reported.
The City’s excavation equipment is not sufficient for this repair or replacement. The pipe crosses under Smithneck Creek around the section suspected is leaking. Making a sound repair and/or replacement could consist of diverting the creek. Pipe depth is extremely deep in this area and excavation equipment would need to be capable to dig at such depths safely.
Mayor Sarah Jackson talked of “critical and urgent options” of contacting an engineering firm to propose solutions; contact Cal Rural Water to see what grants are available and/or putting the job out to bid to a large excavation contractor with appropriate equipment. She wants to do “something sooner that later.” Problems discussed were refilling tanks, building an emergency bypass and concern over a single pump serving the City. The City’s engineer, Farr West was to be here on Wednesday. The Council voted to move with emergency main repairs, declaring a public utility emergency. At the next meeting, there will be a resolution agreement to contract with CTL Forest Management for specialty services.

Dr. Glenn Mollette 

Let’s all try to spend today and the rest of our lives more wisely. With rising inflation, we are all having to spend our hard-earned paychecks with care. Life is the same. We have less life today than yesterday. We don’t have as much life to spend today. We are all clueless how much life we actually have left to spend. Even if we have a lot of life left there is no guarantee of the quality of our remaining lives.

Being able to walk, talk, breathe, see, hear and mentally function are all incredible gifts. Try to take care of what you have and even then, life changes beyond our control. We are all susceptible to injuries or diseases that can diminish the quality and end our lives. 

Spend time with the people you care about. At least call them on the phone and visit as often as you can. We can all think of people who have departed this life who we miss. The only time you have people for sure is today. 

Consider what you really need to make you happy. How much stuff does it take?  We spend life accumulating and storing up. Eventually we have to figure out what to do with all our stuff. Do we give it away or leave it for someone else to worry about? Leaving our junk for others to throw away or put in a yard sale may not be a very nice way to treat family or loved ones. Friends of mine from Ohio are now about 82 and recently sold their nice large house and moved into a smaller place. They’ve spent the last year unloading a lifetime of accumulated things. It’s not easy to do but what are you going to do with all that stuff you aren’t even using now?

What are the simple things of life that you enjoy? There are aspects of life that we have to do and some that we enjoy doing. If we can squeeze in some of the enjoyable then life is a lot more fun. Often what we enjoy in life is not the exotic or chaotic but often simple routines we do all the time. 

Continue to invest in yourself. Take a class, learn a new hobby, and make a new friend. We need the old friends and a few new friends. Old friends often keep us grounded while new friends bring new thoughts and ideas. 

Continue to cultivate your faith and the spiritual side of your life. Your life is more than flesh and blood. Being at peace with God and yourself can only make your life feel more meaningful and level. 

 Life is flying by. Find time to drink a glass of lemonade and sit on the porch. Be sure to savor that morning cup of coffee. Take a walk or ride by your favorite lake or stream. Have a scoop of ice cream. You may or may not have less money but we all have one less day. Make today a good one! 

Hear Dr. Glenn Mollette each weekday morning at 8:56 and 10:11:30 AM EST.

Additional info if needed.....
  
Contact him at GMollette@aol.com. Learn more at www.glennmollette.com  
   additional biographical, Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington Seminaries in Kentucky. He is the author of 13 books including Uncommon Sense, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. 
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WALNUT CREEK (Jun 21, 2022) – Despite record gas prices, summer travel is in full swing. AAA Northern California estimates travel for the 2022 Independence Day holiday will reach 98 percent of pre-pandemic levels. Even though the average price of gas in the U.S. is about $2 more per gallon than it was this time last year, 42 million Americans will travel by car, setting a new record for road trips.

“We started seeing demand for travel grow earlier this year and it isn’t tapering off,” said Rolando Flores, Senior Vice President of Membership and Travel for AAA Northern California. “Even though things are more expensive, people want to travel and they are finding ways to still take that much-needed break.”
Know Before You Go

• Plan, plan and then plan some more. Flights, car rentals, and accommodations are all in high demand, making it difficult to find last-minute deals. AAA Northern California says to plan and book your vacation early to get the best price.
  
  
• Be prepared. If you’re one of the over 4 million Californian's planning a road trip, make sure your vehicle is ready. AAA expects to respond to over 446,000 calls for roadside assistance during the holiday weekend. Visit a AAA Auto Repair Center for a pre-trip check, and you’ll get a digital vehicle inspection with any paid service.
  
  
• Avoid holiday traffic. According to AAA booking data, the busiest day for air travel during the holiday period (June 30 - July 4) is Friday, July 1, with Monday, July 4 being the lightest. The Thursday and Friday before the holiday are expected to be peak traffic days for those driving.
  
  
• Don’t forget travel necessities. A recent AAA survey found that 51 percent of travelers forget to pack something when they travel. Download AAA Northern California’s "Stress-Less" Travel Checklist to become a packing pro and travel with confidence.

AAA Northern California advises travelers to seek the advice of a knowledgeable travel agent who can make sure your vacation is safe and enjoyable by being your advocate before, during and after a trip. To get started, visit AAA.com/Travel.

Methodology
In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence, a world-leading provider of financial information and solutions, developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. AAA and S&P Global Market Intelligence have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.

About AAA Northern California
AAA has a proud history of serving Members for over 100 years. AAA is on a mission to create Members for life by unleashing the innovative spirit of 4,600 employees representing 6 million Members across Northern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska. In addition to legendary roadside assistance, AAA offers home, auto and life insurance, travel and home security services. According to Via Magazine's Smart Guide, being a AAA Member can save you more than $1,200 a year. Learn more at AAA.com.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) announced the introduction of Assembly Constitutional Amendment 16, which would give voters the opportunity to end California’s Top 2 Primary election system.
 
“The Top 2 Primary is making a farce of our democracy with gamesmanship, fluke outcomes, and the disenfranchisement of independent voters,” said Assemblyman Kevin Kiley. “After 10 years of broken promises, it’s time to end this failed experiment once and for all.”
 
Proponents of the Top 2 Primary system argued that it would lead to increased voter participation, less partisanship, and more competitive races, but none of these outcomes have materialized. ACA 16 (Kiley) would address a number of bipartisan frustrations with the current primary system that has led to multiple instances of Republicans and Democrats being unrepresented in November legislative runoffs.
 
In recent weeks, a number of voices in the media and across the political spectrum have raised similar concerns about the Top 2 Primary experiment in California:
 
Democratic Strategist Steven Maviglio and former Chairman of the California Republican Party Ron Nehring:
 
“A byproduct of a 2010 state budget deal, this unusual system was an experiment in democracy. Sadly, it has failed to deliver on any of the promises made by its backers…The top-two primary has spawned cynical campaign tactics, forced millions of voters to choose between two unsatisfactory options in the fall and produced bizarre results. It’s time to declare this experiment a failure and move on.”
 
John Myers, former Sacramento Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times:
 
“The promises made by supporters of the top-two primary largely fell into one of three categories: increased participation by the state’s growing number of independent voters, a decrease in the number of ultrapartisans elected to office and more competitive races for seats in the California Legislature and Congress…But the results from a decade of primary elections seem thin — especially when considering the promise that the election rules would inspire more participation by California’s independent voters, those registered as having ‘no party preference.’”
 
Ben Christopher, California politics and elections reporter for CalMatters:
 
“After 10 years, the top-two California primary system is under fire again, but the problems may have more to do with political gamesmanship…Supporters also assured voters that the top two would increase voter participation overall by engaging a broader range of voters, not just partisans. The truth is a bit of a mixed bag: Political independents can now freely participate in the primary, but many partisan voters are turned off if top-of-the-ticket races don’t include a member of their party. And there’s no evidence that non-voters are drawn to the polls by the state’s primary system, even while a series of other changes have made it much easier to register to vote.”
 
Josh Gohlke, Deputy Opinion Editor for the Sacramento Bee:
 
“The state is perfecting democracy in form rather than substance, cursing the small subset of voters who reliably engage in its elections to an often pointless pantomime of participation. California ostensibly invites voters of every political affiliation to weigh in on a wide range of offices — twice in the case of this year’s bizarre U.S. Senate election — and an even wider range of ballot questions…And yet Tuesday’s primary embodied none of the goals of such reforms.”
 
Assemblyman Kevin Kiley represents the 6th Assembly District, which includes the Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado County communities of Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Fair Oaks, Folsom, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Loomis, Orangevale, Penryn, Rocklin, Roseville, and Sheridan.
 

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Summer is here at Lake Tahoe and that means more visitors recreating in bear habitat, which increases the chance of encountering a bear – or a family of bears. Increased visitation also brings more temptations for bears to discover human food and garbage sources.

For Tahoe bears, summer is a time for new beginnings as mother bears (sows) are often accompanied by very small cubs that were born in January or February and are now experiencing life outside the den for the first time. These “cubs of the year” are sticking close to their mothers and learning important survival skills in the wild. They will likely separate from the sow in one year.

Cubs of the year are dependent on their mothers and are taught by their mothers how to forage on natural vegetation, including grass, berries, grubs, and other natural wild bear foods. Sows are protective of their cubs and people need to give them space. Never get in between a sow and her cubs. If you see a cub of the year alone, or up a tree for safety, the sow may not want to leave the area so back away and give them room to reunite.

Summer is also a time for parting ways, as other sows have yearlings with them that were born in winter dens over a year ago. These yearlings are about to be cut loose by the sow so she can search for a mate during the summer breeding cycle. Yearlings vary in size, but they are well-equipped to make it on their own and do not need handouts or human intervention.

This time of year, wildlife agencies receive many calls from people concerned that they have found an orphaned cub when they are seeing a yearling that is safely on its own. A good rule of thumb when determining the difference is to look at the size of the bear. If the bear is the size of a cat (around 10-15 pounds) it is a cub of the year and chances are the cub’s mother is somewhere nearby or may have put the cub up a tree while she goes to forage. Keep an eye on the cub from a very safe distance, and if you do not see the sow after a couple of hours, call the appropriate state wildlife agency below and they will send a wildlife expert out to assess the situation.

On occasion, there are situations in which a cub truly has been orphaned, such as when a sow is hit by a vehicle. In these cases, the proper state authorities, the California Department of Wildlife (CDFW) or the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), should be called to evaluate the situation and safely transport the cub for evaluation and rehabilitation.

Picking up a cub too soon or while the sow is just around the corner can do a lot more harm than good. Don’t teach these young bears to be comfortable around people! If they are too close, make noise and try to scare them away so they don’t feel comfortable and want to stay.

While it’s fun to see bears and even take pictures and videos, this behavior teaches the bear that it’s safe to be close to you. Bears are smart and acquire learned behaviors based on their experiences. If they have a negative, frightening encounter with a human, chances are they will try to avoid humans in the future. Allowing bears to become comfortable around people can lead to unwanted activity, including breaking into cars and houses or approaching people who are eating outdoors. It is illegal to feed bears both directly and indirectly by allowing them access to garbage or food.

Throughout the busy summer season, the number of visitors to the area steadily increases, and humans must be vigilant with food and trash storage whether at home, the beach, campgrounds, picnic areas or trailheads. Enjoy wildlife from a distance, and don’t attempt to handle young bears. With your help we can Keep Tahoe Bears Wild!

To report human-bear conflicts: In California, contact the CDFW at 916-358-2917, or report online using the Wildlife Incident Reporting (WIR) system at https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/wir. Non-emergency wildlife interactions in California State Parks can be reported to public dispatch at 916-358-1300. In Nevada, contact NDOW at 775-688-BEAR (2327). For general questions, contact the following agency Public Information Officers: Peter Tira, CDFW; Ashley Sanchez, NDOW; or Lisa Herron, USDA Forest Service. If the issue is an immediate threat, call the local sheriff’s department or 911.

For more information on peacefully coexisting with bears, visit TahoeBears.org. 

Issue Date: June 22, 2022
By Kevin HectemanAgriculture and business groups are imploring Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature to set clear goals for boosting water storage and supplies as the drought threatens to cripple California's food, energy and housing sectors.
"Our existing water system can no longer deliver the water necessary to sustain the world's fifth-largest economy," the California Farm Bureau and nearly two dozen farm and business groups wrote in a June 14 letter to the state's executive and legislative branches.
"California must establish a clear target to increase its surface water supply to meet current and future needs for human consumption and a growing economy," said the letter, whose signatories included California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson.
Danny Merkley, Farm Bureau's director of water resources, said Farm Bureau signed the letter because "it is time to sound the alarm."
"It has been seven-and-a-half years since the voters of California overwhelmingly passed Proposition 1 with $2.7 billion for the public-benefit portion of new water storage, and yet not $1 has yet to be spent on the construction of new storage," Merkley said. "If Newsom is sincere about California's water resilience, he will work with the Legislature to get funding out the door right now to upgrade our aging water infrastructure for today's 21st-century realities. We cannot conserve our way out of it."
The coalition contended that the state's current strategy is to reduce supplies and ask people to do more with less. "As a result," the letter said, "we are merely managing economic decline."
The letter cited a 2021 study from the University of California, Merced, that found 385,000 acres of farmland were fallowed last year on account of a lack of water. That led to a $1.1 billion loss to farmers and the loss of 8,750 agricultural jobs; overall, agriculture and related sectors lost $1.7 billion and more than 14,600 full- and part-time jobs, according to the report.
The letter also cited a 2020 study from UC Berkeley that examined the effects of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act on farmers and ranchers. That report concluded that as many as 1 million acres of San Joaquin Valley farmland may be fallowed over two to three decades because of restrictions on surface-water supplies and groundwater pumping.
"This amount of fallowing is approximately one-fifth of all acres currently under cultivation in the valley," the report's authors wrote. "The farm revenue loss associated with this fallowing is $7.2 billion per year." In addition, about 42,000 jobs will disappear, including on-farm employment and agricultural service sector jobs, the report stated.
The coalition letter noted that, in light of the economic peril presented by groundwater regulations, the state Department of Water Resources allocated $100 million to help groundwater sustainability agencies implement projects that comply with the law and assist affected communities.
"We need more, significantly more, investment in this area to ensure communities can adequately transition," the coalition letter stated.
The governor's May revision to his budget proposal recommended $2 billion for water funding, but only $500 million over several years for storage. The Senate's budget proposal calls for $7.5 billion over three years, but the letter noted that $2.5 billion of this is directed toward environmental uses, "not by making new water available but by reducing the use of land for agricultural purposes."
"The governor and Legislature must immediately act to change this trajectory and avoid pending economic disaster before the opportunity to revamp our water supply infrastructure has passed," the letter stated.
Other signatories of the letter included the Valley Ag Water Coalition; Western Growers; Agricultural Council of California; the California League of Food Producers; the California Business Roundtable; and the California Manufacturers and Technology Association.
(Kevin Hecteman is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. He may be contacted at khecteman@cfbf.com.)
Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.

Issue Date: June 22, 2022
By Kevin Hecteman

​Agriculture and business groups are imploring Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature to set clear goals for boosting water storage and supplies as the drought threatens to cripple California's food, energy and housing sectors.
"Our existing water system can no longer deliver the water necessary to sustain the world's fifth-largest economy," the California Farm Bureau and nearly two dozen farm and business groups wrote in a June 14 letter to the state's executive and legislative branches.
"California must establish a clear target to increase its surface water supply to meet current and future needs for human consumption and a growing economy," said the letter, whose signatories included California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson.
Danny Merkley, Farm Bureau's director of water resources, said Farm Bureau signed the letter because "it is time to sound the alarm."
"It has been seven-and-a-half years since the voters of California overwhelmingly passed Proposition 1 with $2.7 billion for the public-benefit portion of new water storage, and yet not $1 has yet to be spent on the construction of new storage," Merkley said. "If Newsom is sincere about California's water resilience, he will work with the Legislature to get funding out the door right now to upgrade our aging water infrastructure for today's 21st-century realities. We cannot conserve our way out of it."
The coalition contended that the state's current strategy is to reduce supplies and ask people to do more with less. "As a result," the letter said, "we are merely managing economic decline."
The letter cited a 2021 study from the University of California, Merced, that found 385,000 acres of farmland were fallowed last year on account of a lack of water. That led to a $1.1 billion loss to farmers and the loss of 8,750 agricultural jobs; overall, agriculture and related sectors lost $1.7 billion and more than 14,600 full- and part-time jobs, according to the report.
The letter also cited a 2020 study from UC Berkeley that examined the effects of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act on farmers and ranchers. That report concluded that as many as 1 million acres of San Joaquin Valley farmland may be fallowed over two to three decades because of restrictions on surface-water supplies and groundwater pumping.
"This amount of fallowing is approximately one-fifth of all acres currently under cultivation in the valley," the report's authors wrote. "The farm revenue loss associated with this fallowing is $7.2 billion per year." In addition, about 42,000 jobs will disappear, including on-farm employment and agricultural service sector jobs, the report stated.
The coalition letter noted that, in light of the economic peril presented by groundwater regulations, the state Department of Water Resources allocated $100 million to help groundwater sustainability agencies implement projects that comply with the law and assist affected communities.
"We need more, significantly more, investment in this area to ensure communities can adequately transition," the coalition letter stated.
The governor's May revision to his budget proposal recommended $2 billion for water funding, but only $500 million over several years for storage. The Senate's budget proposal calls for $7.5 billion over three years, but the letter noted that $2.5 billion of this is directed toward environmental uses, "not by making new water available but by reducing the use of land for agricultural purposes."
"The governor and Legislature must immediately act to change this trajectory and avoid pending economic disaster before the opportunity to revamp our water supply infrastructure has passed," the letter stated.
Other signatories of the letter included the Valley Ag Water Coalition; Western Growers; Agricultural Council of California; the California League of Food Producers; the California Business Roundtable; and the California Manufacturers and Technology Association.
(Kevin Hecteman is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. He may be contacted at khecteman@cfbf.com.)
Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.

 
Sacramento Democrats today announced the creation of a Select Committee on Gas Supply and Pricing. Vice Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee Vince Fong (R-Kern County) issued the following statement:
 
“Californians are being crushed at the gas pump and are demanding immediate relief. Instead of suspending the state’s gas tax, Sacramento Democrats are creating a committee?
 
“Enough with the political antics, suspend the gas tax now.
 
“And the Governor has the power to increase domestic oil supply to reduce California’s foreign dependence on energy. All he needs is the political will to do so. California energy production by Californians for Californians is common sense.”
 
Please note: According to AAA, the average gas price in California is $6.398 per gallon. A year ago, Californians were paying $4.234.
 
# # #
Contact
Nghia.Nguyen@asm.ca.gov
916.813.8367
 
Assemblyman Vince Fong represents the 34thAssembly District, encompassing most of Kern County including the communities of Bakersfield, Bear Valley Springs, China Lake, Frazier Park, Golden Hills, Inyokern, Lebec, Oildale, Ridgecrest, Taft, and Tehachapi.
​

Hailey Crump was announced as the 2022 Sweetheart of the Mountains. She and several other young ladies from Plumas and Sierra Counties applied for the scholarship by writing an essay on why small county fairs are critical to the communities they serve. All the applicants had obvious connections with the Plumas Sierra County Fair and offered some insightful thoughts on the relevancy to our communities. Miss Crump will receive a $500 scholarship to further her education and will fulfill the traditional duties of the title, including hospitality at the Fair and representing the Fair where ever possible.




​The First Runner Up is Adeline Taylor who will receive a $250 scholarship and will step into the title if Hailey is not able to do so.
 
The history of Sweetheart of the Mountains is long and rich. There have been interruptions and changes in format throughout the years. 2022 is no different. With so much doubt as to what sort of activities would be acceptable, the PSCF Foundation decided to scale back all the fund raising and the live performance. Along with the essay, academics and school involvement were considered in the process. Expect to see Sweetheart of the Mountain’s Hailey Crump welcoming visitors to the Fair at the front gate at various times. She and Adeline will be riding in the parade and representing the Fair at events throughout the week. The official crowning and introduction of the Sweetheart of the Mountains and the First Runner Up will take place at the Jake Jacobson Show in the grandstands on Saturday evening during the Fair.

SACRAMENTO -  Today, Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) released the following statement after Legislative Democrats passed the primary 2022-2023 Budget Bill:
 
“With an almost $100 billion surplus, rising gas prices, and skyrocketing inflation, the best relief Legislative Democrats came up with is a $200 refund that gets to you months down the road. That’s $16.66 per month, which for the record, won’t even cover your gas taxes paid this year,” said Leader Wilk.
 
“The White House is seriously weighing a federal gas tax holiday. We all know the quickest way to help Californians is by suspending the gas tax, but instead we are stuck with the supermajority’s months-long squabble and broken promises.”
 
This budget, contrary to today’s rhetoric, is not the state’s final spending plan but merely a placeholder to meet the constitutional deadline of June 15 for passage of the state’s budget. It lacks details on many critical spending proposals and does not reflect negotiations with Governor Newsom. Senate Republicans voted against the fake, placeholder budget.

According to a recent Cal Tax Foundation report, despite a massive projected surplus of $97.5 billion this year, legislative Democrats have no shame and have introduced $194 billion in new legislation and fees. Read the CalTax report here.
 
Last month, Senate Republicans delivered a specific list of budget priorities and outlined their full budget priorities to address affordability and homelessness. Click here to read the full budget request letter.

--FULL Gas Tax Holiday - The state should immediately suspend the gas tax to reduce the cost of fuel for families suffering from record-high prices. The revenues should be backfilled by the General Fund so that transportation projects will not be impacted.
--Lower Costs for Renters - To help offset rising rental costs, California should increase the renter’s tax credit to $1,000 for spouses filing joint returns, heads of households, and surviving spouses. It should also include a $500 tax credit for other individuals to provide temporary assistance for one of California’s most significant problems.
--California Student Tax Credit - To assist students with the rising costs of housing, transportation, or other school expenses, California should offer up to several thousand dollars in student tax credits per year for eligible students.
--Address Mental Health and Substance Abuse Needs - The state should invest $10 billionto build the facilities needed to address the related crises of mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness.
--Invest in Water Storage - The state must invest the $2.6 billion necessary to fully fund the already voter-approved Sites Reservoir that will provide water storage for 1.5 million homes per year.
--Prepare for Wildfires - The state needs to remove the red tape and roadblocks stalling wildfire prevention and treatment projects.

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Senator Wilk represents the 21st Senate District, which includes the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Victor valleys. Learn more about Scott by visiting his website and be sure to connect with him on social media.

The popular car show drew a good crowd with over 100 entries. Live music by Deja Vu kept the crowd happy. The Rotary 50-50 raffle for $160 was won by Wally who stated, "You have to play to win." Best of Show was awarded to Don Turk of Graeagle.

The coveted trophies are handmade by Terry LeBlanc.

Due to rain Summerfest is moved to the Sierra City Community Hall 12 Castanaga Alley, Sierra City

Motorists Should Expect Travel Delays in Work Zones
 
TRUCKEE – Caltrans is alerting Interstate 80 (I-80) motorists to expect travel delays through November between the I-80/State Routes 89/267 interchange and the Donner Pass Road Overcrossing (Exit 184) in Truckee for roadway construction activities.
 
The #1 (left) lane of I-80 westbound will be continuously closed each week from 8 p.m. Sunday through 10 a.m. Friday for drainage work in the median.
 
In addition, Caltrans has temporarily ceased I-80 eastbound lane reductions during roadwork on local roads for the Town of Truckee’s Cold Stream Roundabout project. The I-80 eastbound #2 (right) lane reductions may resume as early as Monday, June 13 depending on the Town of Truckee’s progress. Once resumed, eastbound lane reductions will be continuous from 6 a.m. Monday through 10 a.m. Friday each week.
 
Current work on the eastbound side of I-80 between the SR-89 south on-ramp and the Central Truckee off-ramp (Exit 186) includes slope earthwork and concrete replacement. Eastbound motorists are advised to expecttypical delays of 15-20 minutes when traveling through the work zone. However, delays of 25-30 minutes are common on Thursday afternoons.
 
Construction activities are part of a $30.6 million project to rehabilitate the existing concrete on I-80 in Truckee, install a westbound auxiliary lane from the SR-89 south on-ramp to the Donner Pass Road off-ramp, install eastbound acceleration lanes from the Donner Pass Road on-ramp and SR-89 south on-ramp, improve drainage, and upgrade concrete walkways along ramps to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
 
Teichert Construction of Rocklin is the prime contractor for the project, which is scheduled to be completed in fall 2022. The construction schedule is subject to change based on weather, equipment availability or other unexpected events.
 
The department will issue construction updates on Twitter @CaltransDist3, on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3and on the Caltrans District 3 website. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
 
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In perfect spring weather at the Loyalton Park Pavilion, Fire & Grace & Ash kept elementary school students well entertained on May 8th. It was a Musica Sierra sponsored event that had TK-6th graders engrossed and attentive.
Fire & Grace & Ash will be playing at The Lost Marbles Ranch on Sunday, June 12th at 1:30 p.m. www.musicasierra.org-events/musical-headwaters-fire-grace-ash for TIX

The winners of the fire prevention posters were awarded limited edition Smokey belt buckles and collapsible lanterns by Joe English and Louis Siqueido of Sierraville District Ranger Station.